Connecting with Students

“Just” an Occasional Teacher

Melissa Turnbull
November 10, 2020
Constant Learning, COVID19, Diverse Learning Needs, Inclusion, Inquiry, Occasional Teachers, Play-Based Learning, Professional Learning and Growth, self reflection
4 Comments

Hello everyone! I am thrilled to announce that I will be joining the Heart and Art blogging team this school year. I look forward to time spent being passionately curious with all of you. As educators, it feels we are under the spotlight this year to openly reflect in conversations with curious strangers on how […]

Triggers and Habits in Teaching Part One

Michelle Fenn
November 5, 2019
21st Century Learning, Behaviour Management, Building Inclusion, Classroom Layouts, Classroom Management, Combined Grade Classes, Constant Learning, Design, Diverse Learning Needs, Flexible Classroom, Inclusion, Inspiring Students, Learning About Your Students, Professional Learning and Growth, self reflection, Wellness
Comments

Dreaded Seating Arrangements Almost every teacher I talk to says, “I have a really difficult class this year.”  The difficulties identified are most often tied to “behaviour” issues.  In my experience effective classroom “management” can be connected to dynamic programming and developing solid relationships with students. Many of us go to things like Class Dojo […]

The Gender Gap in Technology

Michelle Fenn
May 3, 2019
21st Century Learning, Advocacy for change, Building Inclusion, Coding, Constant Learning, Equity, Gender Equity, Gender stereotypes, General, Genius Hour, Inquiry, Inspiring Students, Inspiring Teachers, Integration, Learning in a Real Life Context, Making a Difference Through Education, Math, Mentorship, Modern Learning, Planning, Professional Learning and Growth, Resilience, Resources, Robotics, Technology, Technology in school, The Global Competencies, Use of Technology, Using technology well, Women at Work
2 Comments

According to a recent report* by ICTC (the Information and Technology Information Council) Canadian women represent about 50% of the overall workforce but represent only 25% of the technology industry workforce.  Of the 100 major tech companies in Canada only 5 have female CEOs and 1 Co-CEO.   26% of the tech companies have no women in senior leadership at […]

Do-over day

Will Gourley
April 22, 2018
Assessment, Celebrating Success, Challenging Topics, Constant Learning, Differentiated Instruction, Feedback, General, Modern Learning, Resilience, wellness
Comments

Have you ever wished that you could do something over again to make it better? In education, this could be everyday, every week, every month, and every year in our classrooms. If we let it. Have you ever taught a lesson more than once in order to ensure your students understood and could master the concept(s)? […]

Don’t Give Up on a Tough Class

Tammy Axt
January 30, 2018
Celebrating Success, Classroom Management, Learning About Your Students, The Arts
Comments

I have one class that is very tricky. It is a very large class with a lot of emotional, physical and academic needs. It is the two periods in the week that I wish I had a clone of myself so that I could meet everyone’s needs immediately all the time (with this class I […]

Painting with the same brush.

Will Gourley
November 30, 2016
Challenging Topics, Constant Learning, Differentiated Instruction, General, Making a Difference Through Education, Modern Learning, Professional Learning and Growth, self reflection
Comments

Underlying An artist was preparing to paint one day. First, she stretched and secured her canvas over its wooden frame. The artist continued by arranging her brushes, planning a colour scheme, and then by setting up her supplies. Finally, it was time to ponder her subject forever to be captured in a moment of time and occupied space – where her vision would […]

Circumstances Beyond Our Control

Beverly Papove
April 30, 2016
General
2 Comments

You know that feeling you get when you sit in a meeting with a parent and it all becomes clear as to why your student/their child behaves the way they do? Or when after meeting with the family, you would like to recommend the parents for parenting courses, or worse, you feel you may need […]

Sunshine Calls

Mike Beetham
April 3, 2016
Before School Starts, Celebrating Success, Classroom Management, Communication with Parents and Guardians, Diverse Learning Needs, General, Inspiring Students, Learning About Your Students
Comments

When my students arrive into my alternative behaviour classroom in September, so do their parents and families. The family’s beliefs and attitudes about school have been shaping ever since their child became a part of the formal school system. For the  family of my students, that means that most communication from the school has almost […]

Classroom Resolutions

Mike Beetham
January 1, 2016
Before School Starts, Constant Learning, Inspiring Students, Learning About Your Students, Learning in a Real Life Context, Professional Learning and Growth, Student Ownership
Comments

New Year’s Resolutions are a time-tested tradition in which individuals make personal commitments to improve in some aspect of their life. I have used this activity in my classroom for over two decades and find it to be a wonderful, fun tool in helping both myself and my students set goals on how to make […]

The Power Of A Story

Mike Beetham
October 3, 2015
Building Inclusion, Classroom Management, Diverse Learning Needs, Learning in a Real Life Context, Resilience, Students as Teachers
1 Comment

Story is a magical tool that can bring to your students exactly what they need or want at any time in your day, week, month or year. When my students need to laugh I find a story that brings us to belly laughing. When my students need to understand empathy, a story helps them look […]

© 2019 The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario | ETFO Website | RSS Feed | Login